Noise

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:27 am

Have any of you members taken any steps to shield your ricks from hum and buzz? My '01 4003 fireglow has recently developed a nasty buzzing noise that seems to worsen when I take my hands off of the strings. I flip the ground lift on my amp with no results. Very annoying.

Suggestions?

lars · Post by **lars** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:47 am

I had that kind of noise after I reassembled the bass after refinish. The problem was one of the output jack sockets. I think the mono output. Just clean the switch (contact points) on that jack. This is a remedy for a sudden increase in noise. General shielding against electromagnetic radiation is something different...

jaymi · Post by **jaymi** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:48 am

I ended up shielding the pickguard on my 80 4003 and it is a lot quieter than before. I debated on shielding the WHOLE cavity but did not want to really lose the scribblies on the wood.( I know, stupid reason)...did this happen at live gig or were you just practicing?

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:01 am

Its something that has always been there, but has recently gotten worse. Im gonna take it apart this weekend and check it out real good, loose wires ect... I thought I might go the extra mile and do some shielding though. Dont really know what to use, Carvin sells copper shielding tape, Is this kind of thing available somewhere I could find locally?

jaymi · Post by **jaymi** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:09 am

I used copper shielding tape. Any REAL electronics store would probably have it, or the local music shop w/a repair guy would probably be able to hook you up.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:13 am

Ah, the age-old subject of shielding your bass guitar...
Some speak of ground loops, others say shielding is pointless in the presence of certain noise sources. I don't know who's right and who's wrong, all I know is that all my Rick basses have been shielded with aluminum foil - even the jacksocket holes on them - and as a result they're noiseless. Also, string ground in every one of them has been disconnected - I don't wish to go out in a blaze of glory, you know?

jaymi · Post by **jaymi** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:43 am

when you say string ground, are you referring to the bridge ground?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 7:45 am

Yes. Once the string ground is disconnected, your guitar will hum wildly. Thorough shielding will result in hum being eliminated.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 9:45 am

since I'm a cheapskate I've used aluminium tape (the kind you find in the fix-it store) under the scratch plate, and inside the cavity. That way I can reverse the mod if someone "needs" to see yhe scribbling.

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:37 am

check the bridge ground if it broke loose from the soder re-soder it [very common ]

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 2:14 am

What is everyones opinion of shielding paint? Stewart-Macdonald www.stewmac.com, has 3 sizes of copper tape and also shielding paint.

I was considering painting the cavities, then taping the back of the pickguard.

Good idea or not?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:24 am

Alembic uses a shielding paint so it probably a good idea.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:51 am

I've used adhesive aluminum shielding on the back of all of my pickguards. Although two of my basses have 4004 humbuckers, the one with a V63 horseshoe is very quiet.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:16 pm

I've used the copper tape. I found large sheets at a local guitar store, they also have them at the Warmoth web site: http://www.warmoth.com I find them nicer for larger areas, you don't have to overlape the edges as with the tape. Probably the copper is easier to use on the back of a pickguard. I would be hesitant of using anything on one that is clear with the gold paint.

I had a SG that had the sheilding paint from the factory. It had no noise problems. I am sure if done right either will do the job

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:28 pm

I agree Ken, I would only attempt the tape on an opaque guard. This will prove to be an interesting project for me, as I absolutley hate buzz and hum.

Results to follow.

Thanks all!